Card holding tray



Get. 18, 1932. G. H. DAWSON CARD HOLDING TRAY Filed Jan. 14, 1929 azar-1carwe .79. Dauasom.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE E. DAWSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, 'MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILSON-JONESCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS CARD.HOLDING TRAY.

Application filed January 14, 1929. Serial No. 332,454.

This invention relates to a card holding tray and concerns itself with astructure in which the individual cards are retained against endwiseshifting movement, and in 3 which the cards may be regrouped ortransferred to another tray.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of partshereinafter described and more fully pointed out and de- 1 fined in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthis invention, and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cardholding tray involving thisinvention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of the card holding trayillustrating a card holder in its normal position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the card holders indeformed position for longitudinal shifting movement for eitherregrouping purposes or removal from 5 the tray.

Figure t is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the lineIVIV of Figure 3.

As illustrative of this invention, there is shown a sheet-metal traywhich has open ends and which is provided with a body portion 1 withlateral flanges 2, having overhanging flanges 3, whereby the tray isprovided with lateral channels which are adapted for receiving suitablecardholding members. The bottom of the tray is depressed under theoverhanging flanges 3 for a purpose that will later appear. Suitablepartitions 4 extend from the overhanging flanges 3 whereby compartmentsare formed for the different card carriers. In the present instance,these partitions are in the form of small angles or bars, oneflange ofwhich is welded or secured to the overhanging flange of each channel,and the other flange of which depends to a point which is spaced a shortdistance from the depression in the bot tom of the tray for a purposethat will later 4W appear. Suitable card holders 5 are provided withflexible ends 5a which extend into the compartments aforesaid.

The particular structure of the card carrier itself is immaterialprovided that it possesses resilient terminals which may be flexed .555,downwardly below the partitions 4. However, the present carriers areillustrated with resilient lips 51), beneath which the different cardsor sheets may be passed.

lVith reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the ends of the cardcarriers normally lie between a pair of partitions and are hence heldagainst movement.

Each carrier occupies a fixed position in the tray and cannot be readilyshifted lengthwise thereof. If it is desired to remove one of the cardholders, its ends will be flexed downwardly as shownin Figure 3 to bringthe same below the partitions 4 when the. same may be readily removed bya shifting movement. It is also possible to downwardly deflect the endsof the carriers and shift the same beyond the ends of channels fortransference to another tray. The carriers may be flexed downwardly withthe fingers or by placing a short rule or the like over a plurality ofterminals and pressing downwardly on such rule. lVith this constructionit is also possible to regroup the cards as desired by simply depressingthe carrier below the partitions as shown in Figure 3. When the cardholders are in the positions shown in Figure 3 with their terminalsdeflected downwardly they will pass under the partitions 4 and may bereadily shifted and regrouped as desired. At the same time they may beshifted beyond the ends of the tray which are open for such a purposewhen it is desired to transfer the cards and carriers to another tray.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departingfromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a card index, a tray having lateral inturned flanges spaced abovethe bottom of the tray, partitions secured to said flanges and dependingtherefrom, said tray having a floor with lateral lower portions spacedbelow said partitions and card holders having resilient ends confinedbetween said partitions and adapted to be deflected below saidpartitions for the purpose set forth.

2. In a card indeX system, a tray having card holder compartments and afloor having laterallower portions spaced below said compartments, incombination with card holders having resilient ends mounted in saidcompartments and adapted to be de fiected below said compartments forshifting purposes.

3. Acard holding tray having open ends and lateral flanges spacedabovethe bottom thereof, partitions secured to said flanges,

said tray having a bottom with lateral lower portions spaced below saidpartitions, in

combination with card holding elements having resilient ends'mountedbetween said partitions and adapted for being deflected below saidpartitions.

4:. In a card :index system, a tray having card holding compartmentsalong its sides,

said tray-having a bottom With-laterallower portions spaced below saidcompartments, in combination with card holding elements having resilientends mounted in said compa'rtments and deflectable below saidcompartments for shifting purposes.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto subscribed my name at Cambridge,MiddleseX County, Massachusetts.

GEORGE H. DAWVSON.

